Historic Hat-trick for Leinster CC

Women’s cricket has been a priority at Leinster CC for a number of years now, and while each of their teams has enjoyed steady success over the last 10 years, the 2019 season was one like no other for the Rathmines club.

Not content with winning just one, or even two Leinster League titles, LCC won all three on offer in a bumper year for the club. Winning one or two competitions in a season can sometimes come down to a very successful campaign from a few individual players and might not necessarily point to a club reaping the rewards of a sustained effort at developing their players, but three league titles and a Minor Cup to boot points to a well thought out and executed plan over a number of years.

Previously led by Nigel Pyne, and more recently by Rob O’Connor, Leinster Cricket Club shows the advantages that can be gained by continuity in a club’s coaching staff. “It was a great season on and off the pitch,” said O’Connor. “I’m delighted for the players who have worked really hard over the last 3 years and more. It’s this work that brought success this season.”

The 2019 season began early for the Observatory Lane club with two batches of winter training, the first set before Christmas and the second in February and March. Women’s First-team captain, Laura Delany, attests to the importance of these sessions. “We are probably one of the few clubs that provide winter net sessions,” said the Ireland international. “I have no doubt that these sessions played a part in how the players performed last season,” she added.

The last element of pre-season was a tour to Utrecht in The Netherlands which all female players were invited to take part in, regardless of age or playing level. Two matches were played - one against a veterans Middlesex team and the second against the Dutch club, VRA. The trip was not solely about the cricket, but also focused on the social element with all of the teams represented, all playing together and socialising with the opposition teams afterwards with a barbecue.

Leinster is one of only two clubs in the province who field three women’s teams – the other being Pembroke CC. Their model of entering a third team made up mostly of young girls transitioning into the women’s game is one that other clubs are looking to follow in the future, and for good reason. These players are still playing youth cricket but get extra game-time by playing in the women’s Third Division.

O’Connor emphasises the importance of the third team. “We do a lot of work to make sure we are growing and retaining players all the time. Our third team is the most important team in the club. If this is strong the whole club will be.”

Delany paid homage to the club’s strength in depth. “One of the main reasons the first-team had such a successful run last season is because of the depth and pool of younger players within the club, and it was no surprise that the women’s seconds and thirds also won their own leagues.”

Second-team captain, Izzy Saeed Maguire, said; “We were lucky to play strong teams which sometimes resulted in a loss, but I believe we learned from our mistakes as a team and,

together, we progressed. I think our eventual success in the league came from the drive the team showed to keep working hard and to play for each other. No matter the situation, we always managed to have lots of fun and memorable laughs.”

Funding is always an issue in any cricket club, and so Leinster CC’s Women’s committee organised a number of events to ensure the players had the resources they needed in terms of coaching and equipment. Some of these were a table quiz, cocktail-making evening and bag packing. Other events that were run were a Mother versus Daughter match and a fun activity evening. This all worked towards a group of players and parents that were very involved and invested in the success of all of the teams.

It's clear that the efforts made by the club to integrate the three teams in their preseason training and tour paid dividends in 2019, not just because of the trophies won, but also in the way that players from other teams turned up to each other’s matches and events to support them. It’s the atmosphere the coaches and players have cultivated which is the key, says O’Connor. “Results went our way this year but I’m more proud of the environment we have created in Leinster. It is all about the players enjoying themselves, and playing for each other.”